I guess you can say that I’m done with the training for the race. I got my last real run in this morning early, 6 miles (up from the 5 I should’ve done), and it felt good. I feel strong and ready, and am anticipating the race at this point … my big issue right now is that i’m hungry, i mean hungry today … I can’t stop eating. I have to watch what i’m doing though so I don’t put on unneeded weight. I start the carbo-load tomorrow and start consuming disgusting amounts of water as well. We’ll head out for 2 miles or so on Saturday before we travel down to the race in the mid-afternoon, that’ll be it.

I do feel different from when I was ready to run Ocean Drive back in March. Its been a long road, and a 100% attitude change after that wakeup call. I assumed I was ready, and took it for granted, and suffered. This time, I know i’m ready, thats the difference, I just have to keep the spirits up, and follow my taper rules …. nothing crazy or new, no weird foods, and rest rest rest ….. which is the hardest I guess.

It will be odd to not formally be training since i’ve really been going since late last year if you recall. I started the week of Thanksgiving for ODmarathon training, but then ended up injured, so I did take some time off, but ended up back into it back in early January. Its been week after week after week (including long run after long run) … so it’ll be nice to be out of the stress of training for a few weeks before Steamtown/NYC training starts up again. Its time to enjoy running again, and rest my body (well, after Sunday) .. I do intend to run local races as I can for the next few weekends just to get them out of the way before getting serious again ….

Only 4 1/2 weeks until training starts again …….